The Squid and the Whale

In 2004 Noah Baumbach co-wrote the screenplay of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou by his friend Wes Anderson. He already had a new screenplay ready hoping Anderson would also direct it. However, Anderson persuaded Baumbach to do it himself. And he did, with the semi-autobiographical The Squid and the Whale as the impressive result. The film won 23 international awards besides being nominated for the Oscar for best original screenplay.

The marriage of arrogant Bernard Berkman, once a promising writer, and his unfaithful wife Joan is about to hit the rocks. Their two sons, 16-year-old Walt and 12-year-old Frank, take their parents' inevitable separation hard, especially when the issue of custody comes up. Forced to "pick a side," Frank chooses his father, while Walt sides with his mother. Alas the problems do not end there.